Back in the hall Professor McGonagall was left speechless, for a little while anyway.
"How … it's impossible … it can't be …''
Professor Dumbledore on the other hand had already gotten over his shock.
"Professors please stay here with the students while I see what's going on.'' Turning to face the students he said, "Please excuse Professor McGonagall and I while we go see what's happening. I trust you will all stay, eat and then go directly to bed.'' As he said this, his eyes met Harry's.
When the two professors had exited the hall all the students erupted with chatter, all except Harry who was to dumbstruck to talk.
"Err … Harry?'' Ron said, still looking very much confused himself.
"Listen to me Harry, I don't know what's going on,'' Hermione said trying to get Harry's attention, "but that can't possibly have been your father or Sirius or Lupin.''
Harry somehow managing to speak said, "W-why not?''
"First of all what do I keep telling both of you? People cannot just pop in and out of Hogwarts. Second of all they would have had to travel forward in time. There are things to take you back in time but there has never been anything that can take you forward in time, like the way they came in.'' Hermione said while looking nervously at Harry.
Letting what Hermione had just said sink in, Harry started to come to his senses, O.k. I believe you, but that still doesn't explain what happened right now.''
"Yeah, Hermione, what about that?'' Ron asked, while looking to where the blinding gold light had come from.
"Well isn't it obvious?'' said Hermione while looking at both of them, "Someone did an elusion charm.''
"Why would someone do that?'' Ron asked.
"To show that they could and to mess with Harry. Now only who would do it?''
All three turned their heads and looked over at the Slytherin table, and sure enough they saw what they had expected to see. They saw Malfoy and his lot bunched together in deep conversation.
As if he felt their eyes on him, Malfoy turned his head to them and smirked at Harry before turning back to his friends.
"That slimy, good for nothing git!'' Ron said rather loudly.
Harry had begun to rise from his seat while still looking at Malfoy.
How dare he do that!
Ron and Hermione both seeing this grabbed Harry by the arms and pulled him back down, to his chair.
"Harry don't do it, he probably did this to get a rise out of you,'' Hermione whispered, "Just ignore him.''
"Yeah remember he said he'd get you back for landing his dad in Azkaban, this is probably it. He wanted you to do something to him so you could get expelled.'' Ron said.
"Just act like nothing happened and you could care less. It'll make him more mad just knowing that this little trick of his had no effect on you.'' Hermione said.
"You're right,'' Harry said while throwing death glares at Malfoy, "but I'm going to get him back for this.''
"You got that right mate.'' Ron said while too glaring at Malfoy.
"Let'' s just eat and act like nothings happened.'' Hermione said.
Grumbling somewhat the boys did just that aware of the gazes they were getting from everyone in the hall.
Later in his dorm room Harry got ready for bed rather quietly, his thoughts still on what had happened.
Ron, Dean and his other year mates all left Harry alone, even though they badly wanted to know what he thought of the whole thing. They gave up hope of him telling them when he pulled the curtains closed around his bed.
Harry, who had had a very long day, went to sleep almost at once. His last thoughts being on how to get Malfoy back. He didn't know what it was going to be but he knew it had to be big. Something that Malfoy wouldn't forget for a while.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* Somewhere on the way to the hospital wing. *
"Did any of you get the feeling that Professor McGonagall was surprised to see us?'' Remus asked.
"Nope. Why should she be?'' Sirius said as he began to see objects a little more clearly.
"She was probably hoping we would get bored and just drop out of school.'' James said still leading the way.
"I don't know you guys-'' Remus began.
"Hey, look a cat want to tie a firecracker to its tail?'' said Sirius in an attempt to distract Moony but it was short lived because the cat disappeared around a corner.
"Are you guys even trying to-'' Remus started again.
"Where are they Mrs. Norris?'' A familiar voice interrupted, from around the corner.
"Awe damn it, why can't that old git just die?'' James whispered to the others.
"If he dies who else would make our life hell?'' Sirius whispered back.
Forgetting their pain, which was now going away, they waited for Filch to show his ugly face. They were surprised to see the cat come back into their line of vision first, closely followed by Filch.
"What are you three doing here? You little beasts are supposed to be at the feast.'' Interrogated Filch who had not even seem their faces yet.
"So you got a cat.'' Sirius said trying to make polite conversation, but thinking about ways to drive it crazy.
"You're trying to make my work harder aren't you.'' Said Filch coming closer.
"Not today my dear man. We're just trying to make our way to the hospital wing.'' James said in a very slow tone as if he were talking to a three year old.
Half way through what James was saying Filch stopped dead in his tracks and went very pale. Mostly due to the fact that he had seen their faces. Let me tell you if someone had caused you, as much trouble as the Marauders had caused Filch their faces would be imprinted forever in your brain too. Not to mention the fact that he knew they were all dead, except for Lupin who at the present was much older and taller.
"Oy, Filch, old man are you all right?'' asked Sirius noting the change in Filch's face.
"Dumbledore!'' Filch gasped as he ran off in the direction of the headmaster's office.
"Poor man he finally lost It.'' said Lupin shacking his head in the direction Filch had just disappeared in.
"Yeah,'' said James with a grin on his face, "Hey, what do you guys say about going to the kitchens and getting something to eat? I'm feeling much better.''
The other two agreed and they changed their direction.
"Sooo, James do you think Lily will finally go out with you this year?'' Sirius asked with a smile on his face.
"Shut it Padfoot.'' James said while punching his friend in the arm.
"Four galleons say she goes out with Snape first.'' Remus said.
"You too?'' said James with a mournful look on his face.
Sirius laughed and said, "You're on.''
James stuck up his nose and began to walk in front of his friends saying, "My so-called friends.''
"We love you too Prongsy.'' Said Remus and Sirius at the same time.
When they reached the painting with the bowl of fruit Sirius tickled the pear and pulled the painting.
"Ahhh … the sweet smell of food. I don't think there is a better smell in the world.'' Said Sirius while making a show of inhaling.
"Oy, you, house elves. Food. Here. Now.'' Said James as he climbed into the kitchen followed by Moody.
Instantly there was food being offered to them.
On his way to grab a glass of marmalade something hurled itself into James almost making him fall over.
"Hey!'' he yelled at the house elf who was holding tightly to his waist.
"Dobby did not think that Harry Potter would come to see him so quickly.'' Said the house elf into James's robes.
"Harry Potter? I'm not Harry Potter.'' Said James looking down into a pair of green eyes that were now looking back up at him.
Letting go the house elf took a step back and said, "No you isn't. Is you related to Harry Potter than, sir?''
"I don't think so,'' James said while looking at his friends who were busy pocketing and eating food, "Who is this Harry Potter?''
"You is not knowing Harry Potter?'' said the house elf with a stunned look on his face.
"No.'' said James getting a little annoyed.
"Harry Potter is the greatest wizard ever. He has beaten He-who-Must-not-Be-Named many times and lived. Harry Potter is humble, modest and he set Dobby free sir.'' Said Dobby with a glazed look in his eyes.
"What do you mean he beat Voldemort?'' Asked James puzzled. He hadn't been defeated, had he?
"Don't be saying his name here sir!'' said Dobby as he put his hands over his ears like a few of the other house elves and backed away from James.
"He's off his rocker,'' said Sirius while trying to talk around a sausage, "No one has beaten the Dark Lord yet. Cupcake?''
Taking the cupcake James pushed the house elf out of his mind and started stocking up on food too. A few minuets later the guys left the kitchens, pockets filled to the brim with food and started to make there way to their dorm room.
Busily munching on their food the Marauders would have missed Professor McGonagall if she had not said, "You three to Dumbledore's office right now. Walk in front of me.''
This wouldn't have been odd but she had her wand out and was looking as pale as Filch had when he saw them.
"We didn't do anything yet.'' James said but you could hardly tell what he said because he still had food in his mouth.
"Quiet Potter. Now move.'' Professor McGonagall said.
The three Marauders not knowing what they had done but not wanting to argue with an armed Professor marched to Dumbledore's office.
Casting a look over at Sirius James mouthed, 'Did you do anything when I wasn't looking?'
Sirius just shook his head.
Well this is wrong, thought James, hope Dumbledore can straighten things out.
Reaching the stone gargoyles Professor McGonagall said, 'Chocolate Frogs,' and pushed the boys through, when the gargoyles had moved apart.
Walking up the stairs the Marauders started to make the most innocent faces they could muster, form of habit.
Reaching the door Sirius opened it and walking in took a seat from the four that were in front of Dumbledore's desk.
When the rest had filed in and taken their seats also they all looked up at Dumbledore, who had stopped pacing the floor the moment they entered the room.
"Cupcake?'' said Sirius holding one out to the Professor, clearly trying to sweeten his mood.
Dumbledore looked down at the cupcake being offered to him, then up to Sirius's face then to James and finally to Remus.
"Is that all you have to say to me?'' He asked.
"Nooo?'' said Sirius looking at Remus and James for help, but finding them as clueless as he, "You want a cookie too?''